Stationary fire-extinguisher system.



ELL; 000mm. STATIQNARY FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM. v

APPLIOATION 11.21) nov. 29', 1909.

lgwfiml 7 memeifoct. 7, 1913.

STATIONARY FIRE-EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

i 3 known that l, ltonnnr L. Conner, a citizen of the llnited States, residing at iilanti, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful I iprovenlents in Stationary Fire-Extin- 'uisher Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention is an improvement in stationary fire extinguisher systems and it involves certain novel features of construction, arrangen'lcnt and operation whereby XtlGlllC simplicity and etliciency are atained as well as various other important :esults and advantages to be hereinafter c-num 1 'ated.

A. preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the acconipanyingdrawings, wherein- Figure 1 is'alongitudinal sectional view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a detaillongitudinal sectional view of the operating mechanism of theapparatus. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of an alternative form of operating, mechanism which has the same basic principles of construction and operation as that shown in Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several v svstcm employed involves a stationary tank, as l, which may contain a sufficient quantity of alkaline solution of dcsired strength and a distributing pipe, as 2, .vnich has an extension, as 3, that proto a point near the bottom of the tank 'ihc lire extinguisher olve a mov: ble mechanica element, for inn the operation thereof, and where s of the chemical mixing type, hie mechanical element referred may be constituted of the acid bottle, shown. The acid bottle, indicated by nnnaeral 4-, contains a charge oi the which it is desired to employ and when mixed with the alkaline soluthe generation of a gas fatal in the well-known manner. *c'terahly oi the inverting and is pivotally' slipent supply means Til Specification of Letters Patent.

the fire or which ma b '8 in the cylinder portion 6 as 4;, by trnnnions,

Patented @ct. "Z, i913.

Application filedllovember 29. 1909. Serial No. 530,470.

l The bottle 4- is normally sustained in a slightly inclined position in Order that it may the more readily overturn at the proper time.

The operating; mechanism by Which the movement of the mechanical element, in this instance the overturning of the acid bottle, is produced, is confined wholly within the tank 1 and is of novel character, involving a latch which is related to the acid bottle in a norcl mannerand may be automatically operabic by the automatic disturbance or creation of a pressure force at the time of optionally operable by the manual ope 'ation of a part. to produce the disturbance or creation of the pressure force.

T he form of operating mechanism shown in Fig. 2, consists essentially of an axially movable piston which is disposed on an axis that is inclined with relation to the longitudinal axis of the tank. The piston, designated by the numeral 5, is movable within a co-axial cylinder 6 which has a lower portion (3 of reduced diameter normally surrounding the piston and an upper portion 6 of greater diameter for a purpose which will presently appear. The piston 5 may be advantageously in the form of a hollow cylindrical shell, to secure the desired proportions and lightness of weight and its upper end projects slightly into the cylinder portion (3 while its lower end is provided with a coaxial stein, -as 7, which projects loosely through an opening and engages in a recess lwhich is n-etcrably formed in a lug or projection 10 that is-provided on the bottle 4 at one side and preferably near t e upper end thereof.

The cylinder (3 is preferably supported in the following manner. A glandor nut, as 11, is titted in the distributing pipe within the tank and preferably in the union which connects the distributing pipe audits coaxial extension 3. A. laterally projecting pipe or tube, as 12, is fitted in the bore of the aforesaid gland or nut and torconvenience of assemblage is horizontally positioned, being connectml to the cylinder (3 by a union I3 and a pipe or tube section, as 14-, the latter being co-axial with said cylinder, set into the upper headthereof and in open communication therewith. Within the pipe 2 is a short length vertical pipe or tube, as 15, which is joined to the pipe or tube section 12 and which has its up per end turned laterally, as at'16.

The bottle 4 when released, overturns by gravity with the result stated, the developed high pressure forcing the contents of the tank through the system. The releasing of the bottle to accomplish the object stated is efif'ccted by retracting the piston and when the system is pressure controlled, i. e. normally charged with pressure, the retraction of the piston is effected automatically 111a novel manner. The charging means, e. a pump or cylinder containing compressed air or gas, is advantageously connected to the distributing pipe and the pressure developed by the pump or issuing from the compremed air cylinder flows into the distributing pipe and into the tanli, the piston the While assuming its lowermostposition, as shown in Fig. 2, and maintairiing the bottle in an upright position. A comparatively low degree of pressure is sufiicicnt to produce the operations desired and the pressure in the pipe and in the tank will be keptequal, irrespective of their absolute degree, the pipe or tube 12 having for this purpose a nipple, as 17, with a pin hole or capillary bore affording communication between said pipe or tube and the tan r.

Assuming that the system is charged with pressure, the automatic operation will be as follows. "When a sprinkler head, distributing valve, or other equivalent device is opened, the pressure in the pipe 2 is suddenly and materially reduced as is also the pressure in the cylinder portion 6*. The pressure in the tank is thus allowed to become operative, e. expand and the result of such. expansion is that a column of liquid is forced through the extension 3 and for some distance up into the distributing pipe and that, after an almost infinitesimal period of delay following the inception of the movement of the liquid column, the pushing retraction of the piston commences, the piston then being moved simultaneously with the liquid column although, of course, at a slower rate of speed. It "follows from the foregoing statements that at the time the operative movement of thepiston is com plctcd, the liquid column will be at a certain height in the pipe 2 and as this certain height at such time, can be computed with mathematical exactness, the pipe 15 aforesaid, is of such a length that its upper end is above the highest point of the liquid column at the time the piston has completed its op erative' I movement. The developed high pressure holds the piston 5 against the upper head of the cylinder 6 and thus seals the opening of the pipe 14.

The advantages of the foregoing method of operation are that the outlet of the liquid is unobstructed by any movable parts; only a low degree of charging pressure is required; a simpler and less expensive operating mechanism may be employed; and lealo ages ofpressure are without any effect in so far as any liability of premature operation is concerned. It is to be noted that the interval of time during which the water column is beingraised and prior to the movement ot the latch, is very slight. From actual experiments it should judge it was at the most, not over a fraction or a second.

()ther methods of operation than that herein described may be employed. For in stance, there" may be no normal charging pressure in the distributing pipe or tank and the movement of the piston may be effected by creating a suction influence in the-distributing pipe as in my copending application, Serial No. 519,420, or a compression influence in the tank as in my copending application Serial No. 530 368.

In Fig. 3, an alternative construction is shown, in which the cylinder and piston are vertically disposed, the former having its wall ti formed with an annular jacket 20, 'open at its upper end and the latter being of inverted cup shape and having its annular portion loosely fitting in the jacket 20. The jacket constitutes an ellicient guide for the piste-n and is advantageously tilled with oil or glycerin to prevent corrosion and reduce friction.

The operating mechanism disclosed has a number of novel advantages hereinafter more fully explained, among which are its non-interference with the flow of the so.lu tion through the distributing pipe, and the impossibility for deposit, if any there be, to prevent the operation of the piston This last advantage is due to the construction of the piston and its adjuncts and to the :tact that by extending the end of the piston into the chamber 6*, should. any deposit he present in the chamber which surrounds the piston the latter moves away from the deposit rather than into the same, as would be the case if a fiat piston, resting on the bottom of the cluaanberfi were employed. Deposits are not liable to occur, however, since the operating mechanism is so arranged as to be disposed above the water line, since it is not in the path of the outgoing solution, since the bend 16 will ordinarily prevent solution or water from hue-kin up in the pipe 15 after an operation or the system, and'since, if for any reason this backing up of solution or water should take place, the solution or water thus backing up will be trapped in the chamber 6 (when the piston has returned. to its" normal position) and will iiow back into the tank through an opening, as 18, provided in the underside of the chamber G -but will not find lodgment (at least to any material ext ent) in the space between the piston'and the chamber (5.

A further advantage of the specific operating mechanism employed is that nothingshort of a disturbance 0t pressure in the manner explained will produce an operative movement of the piston; consequently the operating mechanism will not be aii'ected by any amount of i rring or by any rocking of the tank which, of course, would be incidentto the use of the apparatus as a protection for sea-going vessels.

In order to drain off any excess solution that may be left in the tank after an operation of the system and which might otherwise interfere with the etlieient recharging thereof with water and alkali, a cock, as 19, may be employed.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A stationary dry pipe fire extinguisher system including a tank and a distributing pipe communicatingtherewith, an overturning acid bottle in the tank, a piston cylinder in the tank and in communication with the distributing pipe, and a pressure operated piston movable in the cylinder and having means for latching engagement with the bottle.

2. A stationary dry pipe fire extinguisher system including a tank and a distributing pipe comn'iunicating therewith, a pipe or tube in the upper portion of the tank and also communicating with the distributing pipe, a piston cylinder connected to the end of the pipe or tube in the tank, an acid bottle pivotally mounted in the tank and a pressure operated piston titted and movable in the cylinder and having means for latching engagement with the acid bottle.

A stationary dry pipe fire extinguisher system including a tank and a distributing pipe comnninicating therewith, a. pipe or tube in the upper portion of the tank and also communicating with the distributing pipe, a piston cylinder connected to the end of the pipe or tube in the tank, a movable i'uechanical element in the tank and forming a part of tire extinguisher agent supply means and a pressure operated piston fitted and movable in the cylinder and having means for latching engagement with the element.

4. A stationary dry pipe fire extinguisher system including a tank, a distributing pipe communicating tl'ierewith, an acid bottle pivotally mounted in the tank, a pressure oper ated element in the tank having means for latching engagement with the acid bottle and a cylinder con'imunicating with the distributing pipe and in which the element works.

5. A. stationary dry pipe fire extinguisher system including a tank, a distributing pipe communicating therewith, an acid bottle otall v mounted in the tank and havii recess at one side thereof, a pressure ope ated latch within the tank for engageme. in the recess to normally ho d the acid bet tle against overturning movement and a inder communicating with the distributn e" pipe and in which the latch works.

-G. A stationary div pipe tire extinguish system comprising mk having a istributing pipe, an acid be? e arranged to discharge its contents into ti tank, a pressure operated piston for erning the discharging operation of the ac bottle, a piston cylinder, and a pipe communicating with the piston cylinder and with the distributing pipe, the piston cylinder being located outside of the distributing pipe, wherebyvthe path of movement of the piston does not in terscct the path of movement of the liquid flowing through the distributing pipe.

7. A stationary dry pipe fire extinguisher system comprising a tank having a distributing pipe, an acid bottle arranged to discharge its contents into the tank, a pressure operated piston for governing the discharging operation of the acid bottle, a piston cylinder and a pipe communicating with the piston cylinder and with the distributing pipe, the piston cylinder being located outside of the distributing pipe, whereby the path of movement or the piston does not intersect the path of movement of the liquid flowing through the distributing pipe, the tank and the pipe being adapted to contain elastic fluid under pressure, and the system having means to maintain the pressures in the pipe and the system at equal degrees and lllGSDCClJiYG. of leakage.

8. A stationary dry pipe tire extinguisher system including a tank, a distributing pipe leading therefrom, an acid bottle pivotally mounted in the tank, a part disposed in the tank and having latching engagement with the acid bottle to hold the same normally against overturning, means in eonnnunication with the distributing pipe by which an clastic vfluid impulse may be transmitted and means susceptible to the action of the inn" pulse being operable thereby to produce the withdrawal of the latching part from engagement with the acid bottle.

9. A stationary dry pipe lire extinguisher system including a tank, a distributing pipe leading therefrom, lire extinguisher agent, supply means llill'lllg' a movable controlling element disposed in the tank, a part. dis posed in the tank and having latching engagement with the element o normally prevent the operation thereot, means in communication with the distributing pipe by which'an elastic liuid impulse may be trans mitted and means disposed in the tank and susceptible to the action of the impulse, being operable thereby to produce the withmin drawal of the latching part from engage inent with the element.

10. In a dry pipe fire extinguisher system, a tank, a distributing pipe leading therefrom, the tank and the distributing pipe eonta-ining'air and having a restricted communication t0 normally equalize the pressures, an acid bottle pivotally mounted in the tank, a pist0n latch engaged with the acid bottle t0 to maintain tlieniormal upright relation thereof, and a cylinder wmmunicating wlth the tank and inwhich the piston latch Works.

In testimony whereof I, have hereunto set my hand in. presence of two subscribing itnesses.

\ ROBERT L. COQNEY.

Witnesses:

31. B. INGRAM,

JNO. ASHLEY Jon-Es.

Qantas 02 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the fiommissioner of Patents, Washington, 33, C. 

